Watch-regulator



"(No Model.)

0. M. HOFFMAN.

} WATCH REGULATOR.

269,670- Patented Deo.26,- 1882.

v/ A) W/ A ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. BORED/IAN, OF WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VERMONT.

WATCH-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,670, dated December26,1882,

' Application filed September 1, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. HOFFMAN,

of novel construction, in which provision is made in a very simplemanner for its general adjustment and special subsequent liner or closeradjustment, and for its retention in position after adjustment,substantially as hereinafter described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of referenceindicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l representsa plan view upon an enlarged scale of a regulatorembodying my invention in connection with the balance-spring andbalance-wheel of a watch. Fig. 2 is a section in part, upon a stilllarger scale of the same on the line a; x in Fig.1; and Fig. 3 is afurther section, in part, on the line y y.

A in the drawings indicates the balancewheel of a watch and B itsspring.

0 is the regulating-lever that engages with.

the spring B in the usual or any suitable manner, and is connected atits outer or free end with a sliding block or carrier D, which isfurnished with a pointer, a, arranged to travel over a graduated ordivided index-plate E, by which the regulation of the watch isdetermined. The graduated plate E occupies a raised position above abase-plate, F, and the sliding block Dis slotted or formed with aprojection, b, which works beneath the graduated plate E, that is thusreceived within the sliding block, and which has its inner edgeconcentric with the line of movement of the end of the regulator. Thisconstruction admits of the graduated plate acting as a guide for thesliding block, to keep it in position. Said sliding block Dis alsosteadied and supported by the base-plate F, on or over which it moves,and which also is of like concentric construction with the are or courseof travel of the sliding block, and which plate F also serves to supportat either end the raised graduated plate E.

His a curved rod, which is concentric with the course of travel of theend of the regulator, and is arranged so that the sliding block D liesimmediately beneath it. This rod has a screw-thread, 0, extending fromits one end to any suitable distance along it, and passes at itsopposite ends through projections d a, mounted on opposite ends of theconcentric base-plate F. The one, (1, of these projections serves tocarry a nut, I, serrated or suitably roughened on its outer edge toadmit of its operation by the finger or finger-nail, and arranged toreceive the screw-threaded portion of the curved rod H through it forengagement therewith. The other projection, 0, forms a plain guide torthe rod H to slide through when the nut I, which has a fixed positionwithin the projection d, is turned to move the rod. Upon the slidingblock D is a bindingscrew. J, the head of which overlaps the curved rodH, so that when said screw is turned in the one direction it binds onthe rod Hand only admits of said block and rod moving in concert; butwhen said screw J is turned in the reverse direction it is released fromhold on the rod H, and leaves the sliding block 1) at liberty to hemoved independently of the curved rod. This arrangement essentiallydiffers from a mere curved screw-rod adjustable by a nut having a fixedposition and in permanent connection with the regulating-lever, whichcombination merely provides for a single slow adjustment, and in whichthe curved rod has no sliding support or guide.

The operation of my improved regulator is as follows: Upon loosening thescrew J the watch may be approximately and quickly regulated by merelymoving the sliding block D, which carries the regulating-lever 0 alsowith it. This brings the pointer a to an approximate position on thegraduated plate E. The binding-screw J may then be screwed down so as toclamp the curved rod H between it and the sliding block, and theregulation be finished with the greatest precision or degree of accuracyby simply turning with the fingernail or knife-blade or other articlethe nut I, which will give a fine adjusting or sliding movement to therod H and with it the sliding block D and its attached regulating-lever0.

Instead of the binding-screw J, which virtually forms a clamp, a springor other form of clamp may be applied to the sliding regulating-block Dto engage it with and disengage it from the curved adjusting-rod H.

A regulator constructed as herein described provides in a very simpleand eflicient manner for both a rapid general and special finishingadjustment of the watch, which may readily be brought down to closetime, and the regulator is restrained from being accidentally movedortt'rom slipping.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a watch-regulator, the raised, curved,

and concentric graduated plate E, in comhi- 3. The sliding block D andits b nding-screw J, in combination with the attached regulating-leverO, and the curved adjusting screwrod H and nut l, for operating saidrod, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the curved adjusting screw-rod H and itsoperating-nut I, of the base-plate E, having projections 01 0, arrangedto support and guide said rod and nut, the sliding block I), with itsattached regulating-lever C, the binding or clamping screw J, and thegraduated plate F, essentially as specified.

5. A watch-regulator in which the follow ing elements are combined,namely: a sliding regulating-block with attached lever, a graduatedplate over which the sliding block is free to move. a slidingcon(sentrically-curved screw-threaded rod a nut for operating said rod,and a clamp applied to the sliding block for engaging it with anddisengaging it from said rod, substantially as described.

CHARLES M. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

DAVID A. Pnaam, UHAs. S. WILSON.

